Following its acquisition of Brightpoint in 2012, Ingram Micro became the first Slovakian customer of P3. Almost a decade later, it has decided to relocate to larger, more sophisticated space in P3 Bratislava D2 park. At the same time, automotive parts supplier HBPO – which is currently located in the same building as Ingram Micro - also wishes to expand.

Working together P3 and Ingram Micro have found an elegant solution, namely developing a new Build-to-Suit (BTS) warehouse (Building DC7) for Ingram Micro, leaving room in the existing facility (Building DC3) to accommodate HBPO’s growth. Undertaking the development and relocation while both customers remained fully operational will be a complex and demanding task made possible only by the professional, collaborative partnership and high level of communication between P3 and its long-term clients.

A precisely timed game

Ingram Micro Inc is the world’s largest IT technology distributor and a global leader in supply chain management in the IT and mobile service lifecycle sector. From its strategically located distribution centre at P3 Bratislava D2, Ingram Micro Slovakia provides services for many of the world’s leading mobile and tech hardware brands across the whole EMEA region and several other international locations. It is also a P3 customer in France.

Ingram Micro places significant emphasis on the quality, safety and high standards of its operations to protect its customers’ assets. It needs to maintain these standards throughout the relocation and in the new building. As a result, in developing DC7, P3 will comply with very detailed technical specifications for the space, while allowing flexibility for future growth, as well as fulfilling the highest safety standards to meet the requirements for the a TAPA* certificate. With its BTS style of construction, P3 can ensure that it can implement all of the required elements in Ingram Micro’s new space.

“Getting all the pieces in place is always a big challenge and we almost always learn something new. In similar projects elsewhere, we have been able to leverage our knowledge and years of experience to deliver the right result for all parties - coordinating the participants’ timetables, ensuring all the technical equipment is in place, synchronising construction and aligning all the elements in a relatively short period. We are pleased to be managing all aspects of the construction of the new warehouse, the conversion of the existing building and the relocation of Ingram Micro,” said Peter Jánoši, Country Head of P3 in Slovakia.

The first moves

The third phase of the park expansion came about as a result of P3’s acquisition of an additional 5 ha of land last year (2015). Construction of the new DC7 Building – which sits on this new site - has already started and the first column was raised this week. DC7 is due for completion in the Summer.

Ingram Micro will occupy a total of 7,000 m² - including more than 1,000 m² of premium office space - in the building, which will become its new HQ in Slovakia. A further 14,000 m² of space will be available to lease. This reflects the on-going boom in the logistics sector in Slovakia with supply of warehouse accommodation lagging behind current levels of demand. In 2014, P3 built 9,000 m² space in a similar fashion and this is already fully leased.

The conversion of the rest of the space in the 25,000 m² Building DC3 for HPBO will take place during the second half of 2016.

Next generation building

P3 is at the forefront of introducing energy-saving technology and improved environmental standards into its buildings.

In the construction of the new building for Ingram Micro it is applying even stricter parameters for insulation than normal and is installing LED lighting inside and outside the warehouse as well as implementing water-saving measures. The technical specification and long-term sustainability of Building DC7 will be at the highest levels and it will be further enhanced by other elements that are not a normal part of logistics property.

Commenting on the new project, Jánoši added: “We have been working with Ingram Micro for almost 10 years and it has proved a highly successful partnership, an excellent example of the symbiosis of mutual growth. Our partner has gradually increased its space requirements and we have been able to satisfy them. Today we are also able offer higher standards to other partners as well. Ingram Micro is pleased that we have this long-term relationship of cooperation and that we have been able to find the right solution to enable it to continue to provide its services to customers. We are proud that in the construction of DC7 we are meeting newer and more modern standards as well as continuing this long-term relationship.”